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Leelanau’s beloved T. Rex migrates to Traverse City
Business Feature, Local PersonalityGilbert is on the move. But don’t worry—the massive tyrannosaurus rex is not terrorizing the neighborhood or lumbering through the woods in search of his next meal. Instead, he is being taken apart and transported from his setting on M-72 east of Empire to his new home on Cass Road in Traverse City in front of the upcoming TentCraft headquarters. The brainchild of metalworker and artist Curtis Warnes and brought to life, or at least creation, by sculptor Enoch Flaugher, Gilbert will soon grace the front entrance at what will be the new location of TentCraft. “It’s quite an endeavor, both to build and take apart. It’s going smoothly,” says Warnes. TentCraft owner Matt Bulloch, who purchased the T Rex, says the dinosaur will fit right in with his company’s ethos. TentCraft’s values are right there on its website: “We are rooted in humility, hard work, fun, and a little weirdness.” In that respect, having a life-size T Rex welcome both employees and visitors makes perfect sense.
Fundraiser continues for The Homestead’s Jamaican workers a year after Hurricane Melissa
Business Feature, Local PersonalityLongtime seasonal residents at The Homestead, John and Belynda Hudspeth, offered this Dec. 26 update for their crowdsourcing fundraiser to support 35 seasonal Jamaican workers at the Glen Arbor resort whose communities were impacted by the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa on Oct. 28. Their campaign has raised $48,000. However, the more than 80 people (including children and the elderly) directly impacted by this fund are only in the very early stages of a massive rebuilding process, write the Hudspeths. Click here to read more and for a link to donate. … In the closing days of 2025, we’re updating key stories that the Glen Arbor Sun published this year.
National Park Service proposes expansion of e-bikes, which are already allowed in parts of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
NewsThe National Park Service in late August announced a proposed rule to expand bicycle and e-bike access and make it easier for visitors to enjoy America’s national parks. E-bikes are already allowed in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore where traditional bicycles are allowed. E-bikes are prohibited where traditional bicycles are prohibited. According to Merrith Baughman, director of interpretation and visitor services, Sleeping Bear Dunes has no projects at this time to expand access for e-bikes in the Lakeshore.
“Without the earth, without the water, we’re nothing. Without this planet, we’re nothing”
Historical Feature, Local PersonalitySince today is Indigenous People’s Day, the next installment in Community Conversations: Exploring What Matters to our Neighbors—a storytelling project of PerSisters and Leelanau Indivisible—features Eva Petoskey, a 73-year-old elder of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians who lives in Peshawbestown. “Without the earth, without the water, we’re nothing,” said Petoskey. “Without this planet, we’re nothing.”
Leland Cultural District hosts Indigenous Peoples’ Day events
Upcoming EventMonday, Oct. 12, marks Indigenous Peoples’ Day—previously observed as Columbus Day—now a national holiday recognizing the histories, cultures, contributions, and resilience of Indigenous peoples. In Leland, community partners invite the public to gather for a free, family-friendly day celebrating and learning about Anishinaabek history and culture. The day will culminate at 6 pm at the Old Art Building with featured speaker James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw, a descendant of Turtle Mountain, international speaker, author, educator, and creator of Ojibwe Word of the Day. Vukelich is the author of The Seven Generations and the Seven Grandfather Teachings and is known for sharing connections between Anishinaabemowin (the Ojibwe language), culture, and traditional teachings.
“The only way that we can move forward is through being good to one another”
Local PersonalityThe next installment in Community Conversations: Exploring What Matters to our Neighbors—a storytelling project of PerSisters and Leelanau Indivisible—features Patrick Concannon, a 44-year-old tribal member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians who lives in Lake Leelanau. With Indigenous People’s Day coming up on Oct. 12, and with a national midterm election in a divided nation looming in a few weeks, we found Concannon’s words to be meaningful.
Smoke signals: Summer wildfires hurt Michigan tourism as political leaders resorted to border accusations, but stay silent on climate change
Investigative Article, NewsThe numbers tell a clear story. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore attracted its lowest number of visitors for the month of July since 2010. The culprit was the smoke from massive wildfires in Canada and northern Minnesota, which blanketed our region for nearly a week and subjected Michigan to the worst air quality in decades. Man-made climate change created the tinderbox conditions for the Canadian and Minnesota wildfires, according to a study from World Weather Attribution. While scientists pointed to carbon emissions as the source behind the dangerous conditions, politicians in the Republican party this summer ignored climate change and instead blamed Canada for what they alleged was forest mismanagement.
Empire Museum celebrates Heritage Day, October 10
Upcoming EventThe Empire Area Museum celebrates Heritage Day this year on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 1-4 pm with old-time music, old-fashioned arts, crafts and treats. Treats include Moomers ice cream, free popcorn and samples of homemade maple sugar candy, sauerkraut cake, apple cider and butter made on site. Exhibits include demonstrations of barn quilting, rug hooking, tatting, knitting, fiber arts, corn shelling, washboard laundering, sauerkraut making, log cutting and antique bicycles.
Community Conversations across political divides: Glen Lake senior Kendall McNitt
Local PersonalityThe next installment in Community Conversations: Exploring What Matters to our Neighbors—a storytelling project of PerSisters and Leelanau Indivisible—features Kendall McNitt, a 17-year-old Empire resident and Glen Lake high school senior. “I would personally like to see people that are willing to talk to each other more, and have conversations even if they don’t agree politically,” said McNitt.
Rethreading a community narrative through neighborly conversations
Local PersonalityWith a divisive national election just weeks away, the group of Leelanau County neighbors behind Community Conversations: Exploring What Matters to our Neighbors believes in the power of storytelling to unite us. In the runup to election day, Nov. 3, we’ll highlight 10 Leelanau County residents who are profiled in this project by Leelanau Indivisible. First up is Navy veteran and retired pastor Tom Petersen.